Apparatus for handling vegetables or the like



'2 Sheets-Sheet l VENTOR ATTORNEY &t. 29, 194 F. c. DAVIS APPAI iATUSFDR HANDLING VEGETABLES OR THE LIKE Filed; Feb. 7. 1959 &t. 29, 1940. F.c. DAVIS 2,219,309

vMPARAIIJS FOR HANDL ING VEGETABLES OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. '7. 1959 2Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR 4 5920 C DAV/s ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 29, 1940APPARATUS FOR HANDLING VEGETABLES OR THE LIKE Ford C. Davis, Hartville,Ohio Application February 7, 1939, Serial No. 255,083

1': Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling vegetables or the like,and particularly relates to conveyor mechanism in which vegetables orthe like are prepared for market.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for washing orotherwise treating vegetables, such as radishes, turnips, beets, etc.,-and automatically assembling the same in bunches of substantiallyuniform size.

Another object of theinvention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed in which root vegetables or the like are automaticallyassembled in bunches containing a substantially predetermined number ofvegetables therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed in which root vegetables are arranged in groups ofsubstantially uniform predetermined size.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed in which the vegetables are automatically arranged in invertedcondition.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter described in which the vegetables are automatically arrangedand delivered in the same relative positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter described in which undersized vegetables are segregated fromthe others.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from thefollowing brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Application Serial No. 322,528, filed March 6, 1940, is a continuationin part of the present application.

.Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the apparatus embodying-the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevation, partly broken away, of theapparatus as viewed from right of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken on line d-fi of Figure 1.. I

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the bunching mechanismafter a bunch has been formed.

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the mechanism shownin Figure 5.

The numeral I0 designates an upwardly inclined endless conveyor havingthereon crosspieces II, II, on which are hooks l2 designed to engagewith vegetables V, supplied at a suitable source of supply (not shown),and to deliver them to a hopper l3. Conveyor It) may be driven by adrive chain l4, through bevel gears l5 and I6 driven by any suitablemeans (not shown). 6 The hopper i3 is arranged to receive vegetables Vas they drop off the upper end of conveyor l0, and to deposit thembetween a pair of rolls H, H adjacent the ends thereof, the rolls l'lbeing journalled in laterally adjustable bearings i8, i3, 30 on asuitable frame l9. Rolls I! are spaced apart a suitable distance toretain root vegetables of a. determinate size thereon, and to permit thetops of the vegetables to be urged therebetween by 1 rotation of therolls thereof at the top of the rolls. The inward r0- tation of therolls causes the vegetables to be automatically inverted, or held ininverted position, with tops extending downwardly. The surfaces of therolls I! may be of rubber or similar 20 material to minimize the dangerof bruising the vegetables.

The rolls I! may have projecting helical ribs or webs 20, preferablyformed of rubber or similar material, extending from the hopper endalong a substantial proportion of the total length of the rolls. Thesehelical ribs may be arranged to move the vegetables longitudinally alongthe rolls toward a bunching device, subsequently to be described, thelength of. the helically ribbed 30 portions of the rolls beingsuiiicient to assure that all of the vegetables will be in invertedposition before reaching the bunching mechanism. Suitable spray nozzles2| may be arranged to project a spray of water over the vegetables asthey move along the rolls, thereby thoroughly to wash the vegetablesbefore they pass on to the buncher. Water from the washing operation iseifective to lubricate the rolls [1 so that the vegetables more readilymove thereon, and is further effective to aid in arranging thevegetables in inverted position between the rolls.

A suitable proportion of the length of the rolls IT, at the end remotefrom hopper l3, preferably is smooth and unobstructed by helical ribs topermit the vegetables to be progressively urged along the rolls bycontact of one with the other after passing out of engagement with thehelical ribs 20, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. Arranged adjacent thesmooth end portions of rolls l may be a pair of longitudinally extendingrails 22,22 supported on upwardly extending brackets 23, 23 and 24, 24.A cross-head 25 slidably mounted between the elements 22 preferably haspivotally inwardly toward the bight 15 mounted thereon a suitably shapedplate 26, normally held upwardly out of contact with the vegetables Von'rolls H, by means of a laterally extending rod 21 adjustably securedto a pair of bars 28, the latter being fixed between the brackets 23 and24 (see Figures 1 and 2). For slidably reciprocating cross-head 25 onrails 22 from and toward a buncher B, the cross-head may have attachedto the outer ends thereof endless chains 28, 28 engaged about sprockets38, 38 and 3|, 3|, keyed on transverse shafts 32 and 33, journalled insupports 23, 23 and 24, 24, respectively. Shaft 33 is driven by a drivechain 34, extended between a sprocket-35 on shaft 33 and a sprocket 36driven, through a reduction gearing 31, by a suitable reversing typemotor 38.

Plate 26, upon becoming disengaged with rod 21, drops to a verticalposition between two adjacent vegetables, as shown in chain-dotted linesin Figure 2, during the initial movement of crosshead 25 toward buncherB. Rearward movement of plate 26, from this vertical position, isprevented by a pin 33 thereon engaging a stop 48 on cross-head 25, sothat as the plate continues to be urged forwardly to the positionthereof shown in Figures 5 and 6, it engages behind one vegetable andurges it and a substantially predetermined number of vegetables ahead ofit alon the smooth part of the rolls l'I toward buncher B.

For bunching the vegetables there may be mounted on the forward ends ofbearings i8 a pair of spaced, horizontally disposed, plates 4|, 4|, theupper faces of which are in substantial alignment with average lines ofcontact between the roots of vegetables V and the surfaces of rollsPlates 4| preferably have at the inner edges thereof verticallyextending members 4|, 4|, the inner surfaces of which are in alignmentwith the top inner surfaces of bearings l8, which in turn are inalignment with the surfaces of rolls H. The plates 4| may be shaped toprovide a central opening 42 communicating with the space between theplates 4|, this opening preferably being slightly smaller across thanthe average diameter of a finished bunch so that the roots will beretained on plates 4|, with the tops of the vegetables extending throughthe opening, after the bunch is formed (see Figure 6) Pivoted at 43, 43on plates 4| may be a pair of oppositely disposed, preferably forwardlycurved bars 44, 44 which normally extend across opening 42, urged intocooperating overlapped relation, against stop pins 45, 45 by suitablyarranged springs 46, 46, substantiallyclosing the opening as shown infull lines in Figure 1. One of the bars 44 preferably is longer than theother so that the bars will be urged into the same relative positionsafter each bunching operation. Movement of plate 28 from thechain-dotted position thereof shown in Figure 2 to the position shown inFigures 5 and 6, urges a substantially predetermined number or quantityof vegetables, assembled at the smooth end of rolls H, at firstsuccessively one against the other and then into bunched relationagainst the bars 44, the latter being yieldably opened up a suitableamount to shape the bunch over the opening 42 as plate 26 approaches itsforward stop position, best shown in Figure 5. It is to be understoodthat as thebunch is being formed over opening 42 the vegetables areyieldably urged one against the other between plate 26 and bars 44 in amanner that does not permit any of the vegetables to become loose andfall through the opening 42. The bars 44 may be relatively narrow sothat they will be urged under the outermost roots. tov retain the bunchthereon as well as on portions of plates 4| about the opening 42, thetension of springs 46 being such that after plate 26 returns to itsstarting position the bars 44 are retained forwardly about the topswithout urging any of the roots back along the plates 4|. After thebunch is thus formed an operator may place tying means 48, such as anelastic band, about the tops and thenremove the bunch by yieldinglyurging it past the ends of the bars 44 (see chain-dotted lines in Figure5), to be packed in the usual manner for marketing.

For predetermining the size of the bunch to be formed in buncher B, anelectric-eye device, comprising a light-sensitive tube 50 and abeamdirecting tube on the bars 28, may be utilized. Tubes 50 and 5|preferably are longitudinally adjustable for 5| mounted opposite eachother regulating the size of the bunch or quantity of vegetables formedin the bunch. The beam from tube 5| preferably crosses the path of thetops of the vegetables projecting beneath the rolls. As soon as thefirst forwardly moving vegetable of each series forming a bunchintercepts the beam from tube 5|, a suitable switch (not shown), in acircuit box 52, is actuated to start motor 38, thereby driving chain 28to move plate 26 toward buncher B. When plate 26 reaches the end of itsforward stroke a limit switch'53, adjustably mounted on one of the bars28, is actuated by a lug 25' on cross-head 25 to stop motor 38. Afterthe hunch is formed the operator may press a push button (not shown) toreverse motor 38 and thereby return plate 26 to its original positionwhere 111g 25- tripsa switch 54 to-stop the motor and automatically 'setthe electrical circuit in condition for the next bunching operation. Itisto be understood that the tying means 48 may be applied to a bunch bymechanical means (not shown).

In the operation of the apparatus the vegetables are conveyed to hopper|3 by conveyor ill from which they are deposited on the rolls II, thelatter preferably being continuously driven. The inward rotation of therolls at the top thereof causes the tops of the vegetables to be urgeddownwardly through the space between the rolls, the rolls being setapart at such distance that only roots over a minimum size will beretained thereon in uniformly inverted position, while smallervegetables will drop through. The ribs 28 on the rolls carry thevegetables forwardly, past the spray from nozzle 2| to be thoroughlywashed.

Upon leaving the helically ribbed portions of the rolls each vegetableis propelled along the bare portion of the rolls by vegetablesimmediately behind it. When the leading vegetable intercepts the lightbeam from tube 5|, the tube 581s actuated to start motor 38 which causescross-head 25 to be moved forwardly along the rails 22. This disengagesplate 26 from red 21, which normally holds plate 26, in the inoperativeposition thereof, out of contact with the vegetables on the rolls, andplate 26 is permitted to drop between two adjacent roots and propel theforward one and all those ahead of it toward buncher B. Continuedmovement of plate 26 toward the forward stop position thereof causes thepropelled vegetables to be urged yieldably against the bars 44, and thevegetables are thereby arranged in a bunch over opening 42 between theplates 4|. Since a yielding pressure is maintained between adjacentvegetables 1| tain vegetable roots of while the bunch is being formed,none of the vegetables will drop through opening 42. While the tie 48 isbeing placed on the bunch, by hand or mechanical means (not shown),circuit switch 53 or a push button (not shown) in the meantime may beactuated to reverse motor 38 and return plate 26 to the startingposition thereof, whereupon switch 54 is actuated to stop motor 38 andset the light sensitive tubes 50, 5| and the electrical circuit incondition for another bunching operation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing brief description that theinvention provides simple, economical apparatus for washing or otherwisetreating vegetables and arranging the same in uniform bunches with allof the vegetables in the same relative position.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims. It is to beunderstood that the vegetable conveying and inverting apparatus iscapable of general application and is not necessarily limited to use ina combination with a spraying device, or with a bunching mechanism.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements adapted to re tain vegetable roots of minimum size in the upperbight between the elements, means for supplying root vegetables intosaid bight, means for urging a quantity of said vegetables along saidelements toward one end thereof, and means for engaging said vegetablesas they are urged toward said end to form the same into a bunch.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements adapted to reminimum size in the upper bight between theelements, means for supplying root vegetables into said bight, means forurging a substantially predetermined quantity of said vegetables alongsaid elements toward one end thereof, and means for engaging saidvegetables as they are urged toward said end to form the same into abunch.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements adapted to retain vegetable roots of upper bight between theelements, means for supplying root vegetables into said bight, means forurging a substantially predetermined quantity of said vegetables alongsaid elements toward one end thereof, and means for yieldably engagingsaid vegetables as they are urged toward said end to form the same intoa bunch.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements adapted to retain root vegetables in the upper bight betweenthe elements with the tops of said vegetables extending downwardlybetween said elements, a yieldable member arranged adjacent'the forwardend of said elements, and a relatively shiftable member adapted to beshifted toward said forward end to urge a quantity of said vegetablesinto yielding engagement with said yieldable member, thereby to formsaid quantity of vegetables into a bunch.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements adapted to retain root vegetables in the upper bight betweenthe elements, means for supplying root vegetables into said upper bight;means for urging the tops of said vegetables downwardly into the spacebetween said elements, a yieldable member arranged adjacent the forwardend of said elements, and a relatively shiftable member for urging aquantity of said vegetables along said elements into yielding engagementwith said yieldable member, thereby to form said quantity of vegetablesinto a bunch. I 6. Apparatus oi' the characterdescribed comprising apair of spaced elements having smooth surfaces throughout their lengths,means for of said elements inwardly stantially equally spaced at bothends thereof, means for supplying root vegetables into said bight at oneend of said elements, means for feeding the vegetables from said end ofthe elements toward the other end thereof, said elements causing saidvegetables to assume inverted positions by engaging and moving the topsthereof down between the elements without substantially crushing ortearing the tops, said elements being spaced to retain roots of desiredminimum size thereon, a pair of members pivotally mounted adjacent saidother end of said elements to extend in overlapping relation with eachother across the path of said vegetables,

spaced at both ends thereof, means for supplying a quantity of rootvegetables into said upperbight at one end of the rolls, means forfeeding the vegetables from said end of the rolls toward roots of adesired size thereon, and a pair of members pivotally mounted adjacentsaid other end of said elements to extend in overlapping relamembers inoverlapping relation, means for urging a quantity of said invertedvegetables into yielding engagement with said yieldable elements to formsaid vegetables into a bunch.

8. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a pair of spacedelements, means for moving the surface of at least one of said elementsinwardly and tables into yielding engagement with said yieldableelements to form said vegetables into a bunch.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for retaining aquantity of vegetable roots in position with the tops all extending inthe same direction, a pair of members pivotally mounted adjacent one endof said retaining means to extend in overlapping relation across thepath of said vegetables, means for yieldably retaining said members inoverlapping relation, and means for yieldably urging said vegetables oneagainst the other and into yielding engagement with said yieldablemembers, thereby to form said vegetables into a bunch.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for retaininga quantity of vegetable roots in uniformly inverted positions, means forurging said vegetables forwardly along said retaining means, a pair offorwardly curved members adjacent the forward end of said retainingmeans, and means for yieldably retaining said curved members inoverlapping relation across the path of said vegetables, said urgingmeans being adapted to urge said vegetables one against the other andinto yielding engagement with said curved members to form the vegetablesinto a bunch.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements for retaining a quantity of root vegetables in invertedpositions therebetween, means for urging said roots forwardly betweensaid spaced elements, the space between said elements being enlarged atthe forward end of said elements to permit bunching of said vegetablestherein, a pair of oppositely disposed members pivotally mounted at theforward end of said elements, and means for normally yieldably retainingsaid pivoted members in overlapping relation across the path of saidroots and substantially closing the entrance to said enlarged space,said urging means being adapted to urge said roots one against the otherand into yielding engagement with said yieldable members, therebyprogressively to form said roots into a bunch within said enlargedspace.

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements adapted. to retain root vegetables in the upper bight betweensaid elements, means for supplying root vegetables into said upperbright at one end of said elements, means at said supplying end of saidelements for causing the tops of said vegetables to be moved downwardlyinto the space between the elements, means for arranging said invertedroots in a row at the other end of said elements with successive rootssubstantially closely adjacent to each other, a pair of oppositelydisposed members shiftably mounted adjacent said other end of saidelements, means for yieldably urging said members into overlappingrelation across the path of said vegetables, and means for urging asubstantially predetermined quantity of roots from said rowalong saidelements into yielding engagement with said members thereby to form abunch of roots of substantially predetermined size.

13. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements adapted to retain root vegetables in the upper bight betweensaid elements, means for supplying root vegetables into said upper bightat one end ofsaid elements, means at said supplying end of said elementsfor causing the tops of said vegetables to be moved downwardly into thespace between the elements, means for arranging said inverted roots in arow at the other end of said elements with successive rootssubstantially closely adjacent to each other, a pair of oppositelydisposed members shiftably mounted adjacent said other end of saidelements, means for yieldably urging said members into overlappingrelation across the path of said vegetables, shiftable means for urginga quantity of roots in said row forwardly along said elements, and meansfor initiating the forward movement of said urging means, saidinitiating means being actuated by movement of a substantiallypredetermined quantity of roots into said row, said shiftable meansbeing shiftable to urge said predetermined quantity of roots intoyielding engagement with said yieldable members, thereby to form a bunchof roots of substantially predetermined size.

14. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedrolls, means for rotating the same inwardly of the upper bight thereof,the surfaces of said rolls being substantially equally spaced at bothends thereof, means for supplying root vegetables into said upper bightat one end of said rolls, means for feeding the vegetables from said endand assembling the same in substantially close succession adjacent theother end of said elements, the rotation of said rolls causing saidvegetables to assume inverted positions by engaging and moving the topsthereof down between the rolls, without substantially crushing ortearing the tops, said rolls being spaced so as to retain roots ofdesired size thereon, a pair of oppositely disposed members shiftablymounted adjacent said other end of said elements, means for yieldably.urging said members into overlapping relation across the path of saidvegetables, shiftable means for urging a quantity of roots in said rowforwardly along said rolls, and means for initiating said forwardmovement of the urging means, said initiating means being actuated byadvancement of a substantially predetermined quantity of said vegetablesalong said elements to form said row, said shiftable means beingshiftable to urge said predetermined quantity of roots into yieldingengagement with said yieldable members, thereby to form said roots intobunches of substantially predetermined size with the tops of thevegetables extending all in the same direction.

15. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedelements adapted to retain root vegetables in a row with the topsthereof extending downwardly between the elements, supporting means atone end of said elements providing an enlarged opening within which aquantity of said vegetables may be formed into a bunch, a pair ofcooperating arms pivotally mounted on said last named means, means foryieldably retaining said arms in cooperating relation across the path ofsaid vegetables and normally closing the entrance to saidopening, andmeans for urging a quantity of roots along said elements into yielding aengagement with said arms, said roots thereby being yieldably engagedbetween said urging means and said arms and formed into a bunch withinsaid opening.

16. Apparatus-of the character described comprising a pair of spacedrolls adapted to retain root vegetables in the upper bight between therolls, means for supplying root vegetables into said upper bight withthe tops thereof extending downwardly between the rolls, means forrotating said rolls inwardly of said upper bight to retain said roots ininverted position, supporting means at one end of said rolls providingan enlarged opening within which a quantity of vegetables may be formedinto a bunch, a pair of cooperating arms pivotally mounted on saidsupporting means, means for yieldably retaining said arms in cooperatingrelation across the path of said vegetables at the delivery end of saidrolls and normally closing the entrance to said opening, and means forurging a quantity of roots along said rolls intoyielding engagement withsaid arms, said roots thereby being yieldably engaged between saidurging means and said arms and formed into a bunch within saidopeningprising a pair of spaced rolls adapted to retain root vegetablesin the upper bight between the rolls, means for supplying rootvegetables into said upper bight with the tops thereof extendingdownwardly between the rolls, means for rotating said rolls inwardly ofsaid upper bight to retain said roots in inverted position,

17. Apparatus of the character described comsupporting means at one endof said rolls providing an enlarged "opening within which a quantity ofvegetables may be formed into a bunch, ing arms pivotally mounted onsaid supporting means, means for yieldably retaining said arms incooperating relation across the path of said vegetables at the deliveryend of said rolls and a pair of cooperatnormally closing the entrance tosaid opening,'

and means for urging a said rolls into yielding quantity of roots alongenlarged opening being so proportioned to the size of the bunched rootsas to retain the same on said supporting means with the tops thereofextending downwardly through the opening.

FORD C. DAVIS.

